(as a sentence adverb) Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.
Used in a Sentence
figuratively
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for figuratively.
Editorial note
So yeah, that might mean less prime rib and more black eyed peas for Americans (figuratively speaking).
Examples17
Definitions2
Parts of speech1
Quick take
(as a sentence adverb) Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of figuratively gathered in one view.
(manner) In a figurative manner.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for figuratively.
adverb
(as a sentence adverb) Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.
adverb
(manner) In a figurative manner.
Example sentences
So yeah, that might mean less prime rib and more black eyed peas for Americans (figuratively speaking).
And literally (and I don't mean figuratively) nobody knows whats on all the firmware in all the components in all your devices.
Vigilantes, historically speaking, tend to (literally and figuratively) shoot first and ask questions later, if at all.
Simply because there are so many human elements in it and (figuratively speaking), human is the antonym of ideal.
These issue need to be addressed before a smaller country and China start to take shots at each other (I mean this literally and figuratively).
The profits went to Intel and Microsoft because they were figuratively selling ALL the computers.
He mentioned stuff like shifting from an static to a living language (figuratively speaking and mostly referring to the revision frequency).
Sometimes you just want to figuratively admire it for a while in the mirror.
I expect that doing so would get one slapped (literally or figuratively?) by a judge for being a wiseass.
Fortunately, someone sensible figuratively smacked me upside the head and convinced me to take a more practical job (which ended up pretty fun actually).
Find a job far away (figuratively) from a computer screen.
Automated cars might eliminate the need for the car to be figuratively outside the door like they are today, but they still need to be nearby.
Quote examples
Have you heard of the term "figure of speech" or the phrase "figuratively speaking"?
Well we won't need "figuratively" since the fluid language cohort now uses "literally" to mean both "literally" and its opposite.
A "dumb" AI that has barely enough intelligence to just figuratively bash their collective, duplicated heads against enough security systems for long enough to find enough security holes might be able to cause sufficient damage.
Any argument I make will likely be skewered on interpretations of "credible" or on which parts of the Bible you choose to defend or which parts should be taken literally and which figuratively.
Proper noun examples
Figuratively every single mode of transportation (cars, trains, buses, you name it) is planned around massive bursts of usage, usually surrounding the working day.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use figuratively in a sentence?
So yeah, that might mean less prime rib and more black eyed peas for Americans (figuratively speaking).
What does figuratively mean?
(as a sentence adverb) Used to indicate that what follows is to be taken as a figure of speech, not literally.
What part of speech is figuratively?
figuratively is commonly used as adverb.